Approaches to studying animal behaviour Flashcards
What is behaviour?
Behaviour is an action that is a response to stimuli
What does classical conditioning refer to?
The association of two stimuli
e.g. associating food with the sound of a bell
What is operant conditioning
learning to perform behaviour based on consequences of actions.
What does a comparative approach refer to?
Gaining insights into behaviour by comparing groups of species that share the common goals
What does ethology refer to/
studying animals in their natural environment behaving as they normally would
What behaviours does ethology focus on?
Innate behaviours
What does the concept of imprinting mean in terms of Konrad Lorenz
(3)
Rapid learning
Independent of the consequences of behaviour
Sensitive period
What are the underpinnings of behaviour ecology?
2
Darwinian Theory
Modern genetics
Name three situations that may cause variations in behaviour within species?
ecology
social environment
populations
What does phenotype refer to?
Any measurable aspect (physical /physiological / behavioural) of an individual that is generated from interaction between individual genes and the environment
What does polygenic mean?
Polygenic refers to the influence of many genes
What are the underpinning factors of Tinbergen’s 4 questions?
Mechanism - how it works (proximate cause)
Development - how develops across the life span
Function - what does it do for fitness
Evolution - Its history
What internal or external causes can be attributed to the mechanism?
Brain structures & chemistry
Physiology & hormones
Molecular mechanisms & gene expression
External state of environment
In what ways can development be influenced over the lifespan?
Learning
Genetic predispositions
Environmental factors
Social factors
What did Tinbergen mean by function?
It refers to its value for reproductive success
What does phylogenetic history refer to?
How it evolved from ancestors
